Container with internal insert



Oct. 3, 1961 I s BATKlN 3,002,609

CONTAINER WITH INTERNAL INSERT .wma April 2s, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1-INVENTOR 57i/52.57 I. 07517# M uw@ ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1961 s. BATKINCONTAINER WITH INTERNAL INSERT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1958INVENTOR 35m/fr f. wmf/A WIM/M ATTORNEY United States Patent l O FiledApr. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 731,483 13 Claims. (Cl. 24M-45.14)

The present invention relates to a container having an insert thereincapable of functioning as a partition or as an article-supporting means,Iand relates particularly to the manner in which the insert is formedand supported within the container. In its more specific aspects theinsert is excised from one of the walls of the container, therebyleaving an opening in that wall through which the contents of thecontainer may be viewed.

There are many instances in which it is desired that a container beprovided with a removable insert the position of which is xed within thecontainer but which can be removed from the container. Such an insertmay function as a partition, dividing the container into a plurality ofcompartments. It may also function as a means for supporting, locatingor cushioning the `articles which are adapted to be stored within thecontainer, and it is to achieve `this latter end that the insert herespecifically disclosed is specially designed. The advantages inherent inthe removability of such inserts are apparent. -f the insert functionsas a partition it permits the container to be used in an uncompartmentedmanner when large articles are to be contained therein. If the insert isto function as an article support, it permits the articles to be mountedon the insert, the insert and the articles mounted thereon then beingplaced into or removed from the container as a unit. However, when theinsert is inside the container means must be provided to retain it inits desired position.

Modern packaging theory emphasizes the importance of visual impact.Consequently containers are often provided with windows or viewingopenings through which the contents of the container may be seen. Inaccordance with a specific aspect of the present invention the materialwhich is cut out from a wall of the container in order to produce aviewing opening is utilized to form the insert.

Further in accordance wit-h the present invention, the container body isprovided with flaps so constructed as to cooperate with the insertstructure and hold the insert firmly in position in the container. Morespecifically, the insert may be slid into the container through an openend thereof after the container proper has been erected, the structurewhich closes the open end of the container engaging lwith the insert soas to retain it in position, the insert being readily removable when theend of the container is again opened.

To accomplish the above the insert is provided wit-h laterally directedbottom flanges which rest on the bottom wall of the container, flapsbeing formed integrally with the bottom wall which engage over theinsert flanges. In addition, the container is provided with flapsextending inwardly from lthe ends thereof which engage with the ends ofthe insert. The bottom wall flaps, and the bottom wall itself, preventthe insert from moving up or down. The flaps at the ends of thecontainer prevent the insert from moving endwise. All of the aps preventthe insert from moving laterally. In addition, when the opstandingportion of the insert is defined by a pair of foldably related wallswhich lie alongside one another, the engagement between those walls and.the daps at the ends of the container serve to retain the walls innpstanding parallel relation.

To the accornpiishment of the above, and to such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction ofa container-insert combination as defined in the appended claims, and asdescribed 3,002,605 Patented Oct. 3, 1961 rice . in this specification,taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the blank from which the container andinsert are formed;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container with one end open and withthe insert in erected position and ready to be slid into the container;

FIG. 3 is a botto-m plan view of the container with the insert inposition;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 butshowing the container and insert assembled, a series of objects, adaptedto be supported by the insert, being shown in broken lines;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 5--5of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional View taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 4.

The container and insert are adapted to be formed from the blankgenerally designated 2 (see FIG. 1) which may be cut from a larger sheetd of appropriate structural material such as cardboard, corrugated boardor the like. The container comprises a top wall panel 6 to which sidewall panels 8 and lit)` are connected by means of foldlines 12 and 14respectively. A bottom wall panel 16 is connected to the side -wallpanel 10 by foldline 18, and carries a flap 20 connected thereto byfoldline 22. The side walls and 10 are provided with abbreviated endflaps 2d connected to opposite ends thereof by foldlines Z6 and endclosure flaps Z8 are connected to the ends of the top wall 6 byfoldlines 3G, those end closure flaps 2S being separated from theyabbreviated end flaps 2.4 by means of cuts 32. Additional flaps 34 areconnected to the end aps 28 by means of foldlines 36. The additionalflaps 3d are provided with opposed slots 38 extending inwardly from theouter edges thereof.

An appreciable portion of the bottom wall 6 is excised therefrom so asto produce a window opening 40 which may be covered by ya transparentplastic sheet 42 `ad hesively or otherwise secured to thenndersurface'of the top wall panel 6. The material excised from the'topwall 6 defines the blank from which is formed the insert, generallydesignated 44. As here disclosed that insert comprises a pair of wallpanels d6 and 48 connected to one another by foldline 50l and havingflange panels 52 and 5d. connected respectively to the panels 4.6 and 48by foldlines S6 and 5S respectively. A series of aligned andcommunicating openings 60 are formed in the panels 46 and 48.

The bottom wall panel 16 is provided with cuts 62 which form spacedopposed flaps 64 pivotable about foldlines 66. As here specificallydisclosed additional cuts 68 extend into the bodies of the flaps 64 soas to produce tabs 7i) substantially rigid with the bottom wall panel 16and with respect to which the flaps 64 are movable.

As here specifically disclosed the container and insert combination arespecially designed for the packaging and display of a series of articlessuch as electric Christmas `tree lamps, these lamps comprising a bulb72, a socket 74 and associated wiring 76.

In use the container, after the insert 44 has been excised therefrom andthe transparent plastic sheet 42 has been applied to the top Wall panel6, is erected by adhesively or otherwise securing the ap 20 to the sidewall 8. The insert 44 is erected by folding the panels 46 and 48 aboutthe -foldline Sti so that theyV lie alongside one another, and byfolding the flange panels 52 and S4 at right angles to the panels 46 and4'8 respectively, all as may be seen in FIG. 2. The openings 60 in thepanels 46 and 48 are then disposed so as to receive the necks of thebulbs 72, as may be seen from FIG. 4, thereby supporting an array ofbulbs, sockets and associated wire.

After the insert 44 has been thus integrated with tbe device which it isadapted to support and position, it is then slid into the containerproper through an open end thereof, with the insert flanges 52 and 54resting on the bottom wall panel 16 of the container. As the insert 44is slid into the container the aps 64 on the bottom wall panel 16 arepushed upwardly so that the insert flanges 52 and 54 slide thereunder,and preferably over the tabs 70 which remain substantially rigid withthe bottom wall panel 16. To this end the spacing between the opposedfree edgm of the aps 64 is less than the distance between the outeredges of the danges 52 and 54 of the erected insert 44 but greater thanthe combined thickness of the insert panels 46 and 48, and the spacingbe tween the opposed edges of the tab 70 is also somewhat less than thedistance between the outer edges of the insert flanges 52 and 54. Thelocation of the flaps 64 on the bottom wall 16 is such that when theinsert 44 is engaged by the flaps 64 it will be so positioned that thebulbs 72 carried thereby will be beneath the window 40, where they areexposed for view.

The aps 34 oldably secured to the end aps 28 are adapted to extend alongthe upper surface of the bottom wall panel 16, and the inwardlyextending slots 3d in their free ends are adapted to be locatedsubstantially midway between the opposed free ends of the aps 64. Inaddition, the tlaps 34 extend inwardly from the ends of the container adistance sucient for the slots 3S to have received therein theupstanding insert panels 45 and 48, portions of the flaps 34 thereforeoverlying the ends ofthe insert anges 52 and 54 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

It will therefore be apparent that when the container -is completelyclosed the insert 44 and the articles which yit carries will be lockedand retained in position within the container. The insert anges g and 54are frictionally retained between the flaps 64 and the tabs 70 and arepressed by the flaps 64 against the bottom wall panel 16. The insert 44will thus be prevented from moving up or down. Since the ends of ltheinsert panels 46 and 48 are snugly received within the slots 38, theinsert 44 will be positively prevented from. moving endwise, towardeither of the end walls 28, and will also be positively prevented frommoving laterally toward either of the side walls 8 or 10. In addition,the slots 33, as well as the flaps `64, will prevent the insert 44 fromspreading laterally by unbending around the foldline 50.

It will be noted that the structure here disclosed permits the articlesto be displayed to be mounted on the insert 44 entirely externally lofthe container, the articles and the insert 44 then being movable intothe container as a unit. This greatly simplifies the operation ofpackaging. By the same token, the insert and the articles which itcarries can readily be removed from the container merely by opening oneend thereof, grasping the end of the insert there exposed, and slidingit out endwise from the container.

The fact that the insert 44 is formed from the very same material whichmust be excised from the top wall panel 6 in order to produce theviewing opening 40 makes for economy, but that particular mode offormation of the insert 44 is not essential. Moreover, while the insert44 has been here disclosed in the form of an article support, it will beapparent that it could be designed to function solely as a removablepartition for subdividing the container into a plurality of compartmentswhenever that is desired. Furthermore, the insert could be soconstructed as to support articles therein without having an upstandingwall. Other variations may be made in the present invention whencompared with the single embodiment here specifically disclosed, allwithin the spirit of the invention as dened in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A container comprising a bottom Wall having cuts i producing spacedopposed aps, an insert comprising an upstanding wall and laterallydirected bottom anges, said bottom flanges extending along said bottomwall and under said flaps, and `end Walls with flaps foldable inwardlyso as to lie along said bottom wall, said upstanding wall of said inserthaving a length greater than the distance between the free ends of saidend wall aps, said end wall flaps and the upstanding wall of said inserthaving a slotted interengagement.

2. A container comprising a bottom wall having cuts producing spacedopposed aps, an insert comprising an upstanding -wall and laterallydirected bottom llanges, said bottom anges extending along said bottomwall and under said aps, and flaps on said container extending inwardlyover said bottom wall, said upstanding wall of said insert having alength greater than the distance between the free ends of said aps, saidaps and the upstanding wall of said insert having a slottedinterengagement.

3. A container comprising a bottom wall having cuts producing spacedopposed aps, an insert comprising an upstanding wall and laterallydirected bottom anges, said bottom anges extending along said bottomwall and under said ilaps, and a flap on said container adjacent an endof said insert and adjacent said bottom wall, said ap and the upstandingwall of said insert having a'slotted interengagement.

4. A container comprising a bottom wall having cuts producing spacedopposed flaps, lan insert comprising an upstanding wall and laterallydirected bottom flanges, said bottom wall comprising tabs extendingtoward one Aanother into said bottom wall flaps, said bottom flangesextending along said bottom wall and being located beneath said laps andabove said tabs, and end walls with aps foldable inwardly so as to liealong said bottom wall, said upstanding wall of said insert having alength greater than the distance between the free ends of said end wallflaps, said end wall ilaps and the upstanding Wall of said insert havinga slotted interengagement.

5. A container comprising a bottom wall having cuts producing spacedopposed aps, 'an insert comprising an upstanding wall and laterallydirected bottom flanges, said bottom wall comprising tabs extendingtoward one another -into said bottom wall aps, said bottom flangesextending along said bottom wall and being located beneath said flapsand above said tabs, and iiaps on said container extending inwardly oversaid bottom wall, said upstanding wall of said insert having a lengthgreater than the distance between the free ends of said aps, said flapsand the upstanding wall of said insert having a slotted interengagement.

6. A container comprising a bottom wall having c uts producing spacedopposed aps, an insert comprising an upstanding wall and laterallydirected bottom anges, said bottom wall comprising tabs extending towardone another into said bottom wall flaps, said bottom flanges extendingalong said bottom wall and being located beneath said flaps and abovesaid tabs, and a flap on said container adjacent an end of said insertand adjacent said bottom wall, said flap and the upstanding wall of saidinsert having a slotted interengagement.

7. A container comprising a bottom wall having cuts producing spacedopposed flaps, an insert comprising an upstanding wall and laterallydirected bottom iianges, said bottom flanges extending along said bottomwall and under said flaps, and a top wall having an opening, said insertcomprising a pair of wall panels connected along one side by a foldlneand flanges connected to the other sides of said wall panels byfoldlines, said insert being formed exclusively from the materialexcised from said top wall to produce said opening.

8. In the container of claim 7, a ap on said container adjacent an endof said insert and adjacent said bottom Wall, said iap and theupstanding wall of said insert having a slotted interengagerncnt.

9. The container of claim 7, in which said bottom wall comprises tabsextending toward one another into said bottom wall aps, said flanges ofsaid insert being located beneath said iiaps on said bottom wall andabove said tabs, and in which sa-id container comprises a flap adjacentan end of said insert and adjacent said bottom wall, said iiap and theupstandiug wall of said insert having a slotted interengagement.

10. A container comprising a top wall having an opening extendingsubstantially the length thereof, side, bottom and end Walls foldablyconnected to one another and defining said container proper, end flapsfoldably connected to some of said walls and extending along said bottomwall to positions inside the ends of said openings, the yfree ends ofsaid ilaps having opposed outwardly directed slots, and an insert formedfrom a blank no larger in any dimension than said opening in s-aid topwall, said insert comprising a pair of wall panels connected along oneside by a foldline and anges connected to the other sides of said wallpanels by foldlines, said bottom Wall having cuts producing spacedopposed flaps located beneath said top wall opening, said insert iiangesextending lalong said bottom Wall and under said bottom wall flaps, saidinsert wall panels extending up alongside one another from said bottomwall toward said top wall and the ends of said Wall panels beingreceived within said slots in said iirst mentioned flaps.

11. A container compris-ing a bottom wall having cuts producing spacedopposed flaps, and an insert comprising an upstandiug wall and laterallydirected bottom flanges, said bottom wall comprising tabs extendingtoward one another into said bottom wall flaps, said bottom angesextending along said bottom wall and being located beneath said aps andabove said tabs.

12. A container comprising a bottom wall having cuts producing laterallyspaced longitudinally extending opposed aps, and an insert comprising anupstandiug wall extending in a longitudinal direction and bottom flangesextending out beyond said upstandiug wall in a lateral direction, saidbottom anges extending along said bottom wall and under said aps, saidbottom wall comprising tabs extending toward one another into saidbottom wall aps, said bottom ilanges of said inserts being locatedbeneath said iiaps and above said tabs.

13. A container comprising a bottom Wall having cuts producing spacedopposed flaps, an insert comprising an upstandiug wall and laterallydirected bottom ilanges, said bottom anges extending along saidbottomwall and under said `flaps, and a -top wall having an opening,said insert comprising a pair of wall panels connected along one side bya foldline and iianges connected to the other sides of said Wall panelsby foldlines, said insert being formed exclusively from the materialexcised from said top wall to produce said opening, said bottom Wallcomprising tabs extending toward one another into said bottom walliiaps, said bottom anges of said inserts being located beneath said iiapand above said tabs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,549,111 Grollman Aug. 1'1, 1925 1,578,573 Ballon Mar. 30, 19261,823,285 Petritsch Sept. 15, 1931 2,270,084 Schmidt Ian. 13, 19422,306,078 -Nydegger Dec. 22, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 432,769 Italy Mar. 26,1948

